PARAMUS—Police have identified Demaris D. Martinez, a 28-year-old social media influencer from Hillsdale, as the woman struck and killed by two vehicles while attempting to cross Route 17 in Paramus around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Martinez, branding herself online as “Queen Demaris” and active on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, was a vocal advocate for women in crisis. She shared her journey of personal growth, beauty, and her Christian faith with a growing audience. Her content often focused on spreading kindness and resilience, especially through challenging times.
She was a 2015 graduate of Pascack Valley High School, and spoke online about having top grades but challenging situations in fitting in from The Bronx. She decried cliques and brief but painful episodes of hate speech at the district, which in 2015 and 2018 drew a media spotlight. “Google it,” she tells her followers.
She alleged to have been a victim of domestic and sexual abuse.
She had a young child, Kam. One of her videos featured a first outing to the Mets with her son.
“I don’t care how people see me… What can I really do? I’m going to keep living my truth,” Martinez said in a video from 2023 titled My Testimony. In that video, she reflected on her upbringing, her faith, and her desire to help others.
She spoke openly about her goal to become a lawyer, saying, “I already saw my future: I’m going to become a great lawyer and help a bunch of women, and a lot of people will know God through me. I’m doing it His way now, honestly.”
According to Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti, Martinez was initially struck by a white Kia driven by a 42-year-old man after crossing the northbound lanes and median of Route 17. Moments later, she was hit by a tractor-trailer driven by a 65-year-old man.
Authorities are continuing to investigate how Martinez came to be in the area. The Paramus Police Crash Investigation Unit and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation are involved in the investigation.
Police ask anyone with information about her whereabouts prior to the accident to contact Detective Nicholas Luciano at (201) 262-3400 ext. 428.
Martinez’s followers have been mourning her loss in the comments of her social media posts, sharing memories of her positivity and dedication to her faith. “Life with Maris” was the theme of her online presence, where she often shared reflections on faith and empowerment.